Electric trucks and buses are frequently touted as the future of sustainable mobility. They promise zero emissions, quieter streets and a cleaner environment. But have you ever thought about how these Electric Vehicles are made — and what happens to them once life cycle of electric trucks and buses is complete? The reality is, the pathway of an electric truck or bus is much more subtle than the yard sign suggests. Every stage of a lithium-ion battery’s lifecycle from mining the raw materials to recycling old batteries has an environmental cost. What we will be doing in this blog post is explore in depth the hidden lifecycle of electric trucks and buses, to understand the challenges, as well as the innovations and opportunities that a greener path has to offer.
Extracting Raw Material
What Is in an Electric Vehicle Battery?
Lithium-ion batteries power electric trucks and buses. These batteries use several critical raw materials, which include:
Lithium: Used in the cathode of a battery.
Cobalt: Provides stability and high energy density.
Nickel: boosts energy storage capacity.
Graphite: Used to make the battery’s anode.
One example of this is Tesla’s Semi, which is an all-electric truck that utilizes a massive battery pack that requires large quantities of these metals. Similarly, electric buses such as Proterra’s Catalyst E2 are powered by lithium-ion batteries to run long-distance.
Mining: Its Environmental and Social Impacts
Extracting these materials comes with costs. In Chile’s Atacama Desert, lithium extraction has caused water scarcity, threatening local communities and ecosystems. At the same time, cobalt mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been tied to child labor and unsafe working conditions.
Mining Tech: The Next Mining Industry Revolution
Fortunately, there are initiatives to create more sustainable mining operations. For example, Lithium Americas is creating a more environmentally friendly lithium extraction process that takes less water to execute. Other companies, such as Glencore, are trying to enhance transparency and ethics in cobalt mining.
Manufacturing: Making Electric Trucks and Buses
The Climate Impact of Manufacturing
Building electric trucks and buses requires a lot of energy, especially in making batteries. For instance, it requires more carbon to build a BYD electric bus than a diesel bus, upfront. But studies have shown that over their lifetime electric vehicles negate this emission from cleaner operation.
How Manufacturers Are Going Green
But many businesses are seeking to lessen the impact of manufacturing on the environment. Volvo, for example, fuels its factories with renewable energy and intends to reach net-zero emissions by 2040. Likewise, electric truck manufacturer called Rivian uses recycled materials on its vehicles to reduce waste.
On the Road: The Operational Phase
Zero Emissions During Use
Once on the road, electric trucks and buses excel. They have zero tailpipe emissions, making them perfect for reducing air pollution in cities. Shenzhen in China, for instance, has swapped out its entire fleet of buses for electric buses contributing to 48 percent lower CO2 emissions and improved air quality.
Power Sources Matter: Dirty or Clean Electricity
But electric vehicles are only as sustainable as the energy grid. In many areas, such as Norway, where hydropower provides most electricity, electric buses are extremely clean. But in regions dependent on coal, such as parts of India, those benefits are less clear. Shifting over to renewable energy is important to achieving the highest environmental benefit of electric vehicles.
End of Life : Disposal and Recycling
The Trouble With Battery Waste
As electric trucks and squares age out, their batteries are proving to be a challenge. Improperly recycled, they also can leak toxic chemicals into the environment. China, for instance, has become the world’s biggest producer of electric buses, and now is facing a problem with battery waste as its fleet grows older.
Advances in Battery Recycling
Fortunately, recycling technology is evolving at a rapid pace. Founded by former Tesla co-founder JB Straubel, companies such as Redwood Materials are developing systems to recover upwards of 95% of materials from spent batteries. Similarly, Northvolt, a Swedish company, is also building a recycling plant that can handle 125,000 tons of batteries a year.
Second Life for Batteries
Many batteries can be used again, before they are recycled, in less demanding applications. BMW uses old EV batteries for energy storage at its Leipzig plant, and Nissan powers streetlights with retired Leaf batteries in Japan.
The Bigger Picture: Are Electric Trucks and Buses Truly Sustainable?
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Even though the upfront environmental cost is high for electric trucks and buses, the long-term benefits often outweigh the disadvantages. For instance, according to a Union of Concerned Scientists report, electric buses emit 50% less emissions per lifetime than diesel do, factoring the cost of manufacturing and electricity.
The Importance of Policy and Innovation
However, governments and companies should create conditions for improving sustainability. The European Union, for example, has imposed stringent regulations on battery recycling; in California, fleet operators receive subsidies for switching to electric vehicles.
What the Future Holds
The future looks promising. Solid state batteries, which use less cobalt and can provide even more energy density, could also help reduce the environmental footprint of electric vehicles even more. Alternatively, closed-loop recycling systems that continuously use materials could make the lifecycle of electric trucks and buses even more sustainable.
Conclusion
The life cycle of electric trucks and buses runs the gamut, from mining raw materials to recycling old batteries. Although they present certain challenges, these vehicles constitute a huge step toward a cleaner, greener future. And by tackling challenges such as sustainable mining, clean energy and battery recycling, we can make sure that electric trucks and buses deliver on that promise.
What are your thoughts on electric vehicles’ hidden lifecycle? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below, and be sure to check out other sustainable transportation content we have on our website!